James Newman from Thatcham charged with axe offence, robbery and assault in Newbury

A man has been sent to the crown court charged with robbery and arming himself with an axe.

James Newman is also accused of assault.

The 48-year-old, of Barfield Road, Thatcham, appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, April 2.

There, he was charged with robbing Klaudia Wiltshire of an £800 iPhone.

He was further accused of having an offensive weapon, namely an axe, in public without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.

Finally, Newman was charged with assaulting Mark Wiltshire by beating him.

All the above offences were said to have been committed in Newbury on September 3 last year.

Magistrates declined further jurisdiction and sent the case to be dealt with by a judge and, in the event of a trial, by a jury, sitting at Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Newman was meanwhile released on conditional bail.